[105th Congress Public Law 137]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ137.105]
[[Page 111 STAT. 2640]]
Public Law 105-137
105th Congress
An Act
To amend chapter 443 of title 49, United States Code, to extend the
authorization of the aviation insurance program, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 2, 1997 - [S. 1193]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Aviation
Insurance Reauthorization Act of 1997.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT <<NOTE: 49 USC 40101 note.>> TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Aviation Insurance Reauthorization
Act of 1997''.
SEC. 2. VALUATION OF AIRCRAFT.
(a) General Authority for Insurance and Reinsurance.--Section
44302(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``as
determined by the Secretary.'' and inserting ``as determined by the
Secretary in accordance with reasonable business practices in the
commercial aviation insurance industry.''.
(b) Limitation on Maximum Insured Amount.--Section 44306(c) of title
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``as determined by the
Secretary.'' and inserting ``as determined by the Secretary in
accordance with reasonable business practices in the commercial aviation
insurance industry.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECT OF INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS.
Section 44305(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following: ``If such an agreement is countersigned
by the President or the President's designee, the agreement shall
constitute, for purposes of section 44302(b), a determination that
continuation of the aircraft operations to which the agreement applies
is necessary to carry out the foreign policy of the United States.''.
SEC. 4. ARBITRATION AUTHORITY.
(a) Authorization of Binding Arbitration.--Section 44308(b)(1) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the second
sentence the following: ``Any such policy may authorize the binding
arbitration of claims made thereunder in such manner as may be agreed to
by the Secretary and any commercial insurer that may be responsible for
any part of a loss to which such policy relates.''.
(b) Authority to Pay Arbitration Award.--Section 44308(b)(2) of such
title is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
[[Page 111 STAT. 2641]]
``(B) pay the amount of a binding arbitration award
made under paragraph (1); and''.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 44310 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2002'' and inserting ``December 31,
1998''.
(b) Effective <<NOTE: 49 USC 44310 note.>> Date.--The amendment made
by subsection (a) takes effect on October 1, 1997.
SEC. 6. USE OF AIRCRAFT FOR DEMONSTRATION.
Section 40102(a)(37)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' in clause (i);
(2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
(3) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) owned by the United States Government
and operated by any person for purposes related to
crew training, equipment development, or
demonstration; or''.
Approved December 2, 1997.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1193 (H.R. 2036):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-244 accompanying H.R. 2036 (Comm. on
Transportation and Infrastructure).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-140 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997):
Nov. 8, considered and passed Senate.
Nov. 13, considered and passed House.
<all>